Belichick: Patriots, Chiefs used underinflated balls in Week 15

Head coach Bill Belichick confirmed that the balls for both the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs were improperly inflated when the teams met last Sunday.

"Well, the officials handle that, and they were underinflated by two-to-2.5 pounds," Belichick said. "I think you could see that by the kicks. Both kickers missed kicks. Kickoffs, we had two of them that almost went out of bounds. So, they had six balls. It was both sets of balls. It was all six of them. So, I don't know."

Belichick said the issue was resolved in the second half.

Kicking footballs are supposed to be between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch, with the responsibility for inflation falling on game officials, who are in possession of the footballs prior to the game.

The inflation of footballs was a topic surrounding the Patriots in the past. The franchise was fined $1 million, docked two draft picks, and quarterback Tom Brady was suspended four games, for what the league determined was a plot by the club to provide improperly inflated balls during the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts in 2015.

"Again, the things that are out of our control, I don't know what the explanation is. But, it was the same for both teams," Belichick said when asked about the accusations the team dealt with nearly a decade ago.

A spokesperson for the league declined to comment regarding the underinflated balls, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. Referee Shawn Hochuli's crew worked the Chiefs-Patriots game.

Belichick pointed to missed field goals by both the Patriots' Chad Ryland and Chiefs' Harrison Butker in the first half as evidence of the underinflated balls' impact on special teams. Ryland missed a 41-yard field goal attempt, while Butker missed a three-point try for the first time this season on a 39-yard attempt.

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